The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been hit by another shock, but this time the big question is not about politics or players. It’s a question of money. After Bangladesh ordered an indefinite ban on the broadcast of IPL 2026 in the country, many wondered whether the BCCI would take a serious financial hit.
Ban on IPL telecast in Bangladesh: How much money will BCCI actually lose?
The political decision to ban IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh has sparked a major question regarding the financial damage caused to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The TV ban came after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following a BCCI directive following the reported killing of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
Now, the Bangladesh fast bowler’s controversial ouster from IPL 2026 due to political pressure has become a national issue. The fallout has now also reached the ICC, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) pushing for its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches to be moved from India to Sri Lanka.
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There have been rumors of serious losses, but industry experts have suggested a minimal financial hit to the BCCI. Experts who follow the sports sector believe that the loss of Bangladesh as a broadcast market will not significantly harm the IPL’s revenue streams.
The BCCI is largely protected from a broadcast revenue perspective. The IPL media rights for the 2023 to 2027 cycle are already locked in at a massive INR 48,390.32 crore. This agreement is a contractual agreement for the global package, which means that payments are fixed regardless of temporary TV broadcast bans in each country.
The sublicensing rights for the Bangladesh territory are held by T Sports until 2027. Industry experts confirm that these payments are also bound by a contractual agreement. So, unless a force majeure clause is invoked, the fees are likely already guaranteed even if the matches are not shown on television. This means that BCCI’s core media rights revenue remains intact for now.
Santosh N, managing partner at D&P Advisory Services, an assessment services provider, was quoted as saying by Business Standard: “I don’t see this decision, banning IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, having a big impact. It doesn’t affect BCCI’s revenue, nor does it change what the broadcaster would pay.”
Estimation of real financial risk
Bangladesh have had a very limited on-field presence in the IPL over the years, with only two or three players featuring regularly in recent seasons. As a result, overall viewership and advertiser interest are unlikely to take a major hit.
Also Read: BCCI remains unfazed as Bangladesh implements IPL 2026 broadcast ban, looks to change venue for T20 World Cup 2026
Brand Finance’s Ajimon Francis estimates that even if the ban in Bangladesh continues for a long period, the overall financial impact on the IPL would remain less than 2%, potentially between ₹40-60 crore when considering all hypothetical downstream effects.
Advertising is another area where fears seem exaggerated. Any loss of Bangladeshi advertisers will likely be quickly offset by brands in other markets, thanks to IPL’s continued global reach.
N Chandramouli, managing director, TRA Research, said: “Any revenue loss is likely to be made up by intervention from other brands. The IPL continues to grow and existing sponsors may increase their advertising in the coming seasons.
The real losers: Bangladeshi stakeholders
The real loss would be felt more by Bangladeshi broadcasters and local advertisers than by the IPL or BCCI.
1. Broadcaster (T Sports): They lose advertising revenue for which they have already paid fixed fees.
2. Local advertisers: Bangladeshi brands lack a top-notch marketing platform.
3. Fans: They are deprived of watching world-class players in action in the IPL.
